Today Jacob and I ventured to Joshua Tree National Park. Mother, John and Richard went to Legoland and Dad spent a relaxing day at the house.

We started our day with some yummy breakfast and Jacob looked up trail options for us at the park. We decided to stop by the store on our way out to pick up snacks for the road.

Jacob commented on how he could really get a feel for how big the Los Angeles area is after driving through it and the suburbs. There were multiple freeways we could take. And along the way there were huge super shopping centers. It doesn’t matter what time of day, there is always traffic. There are so many cars on the freeway at any given time.

After a quick two hour drive on freeways in varying condition and a few congested areas, we arrived to the park. There was a line to get in and once we were to the front they stopped the line. I was worried they were going to say the park was full but instead they just sent us on through and said to pay when we exit.

I didn’t really have any expectations for the park and didn’t know what to expect. I was completely blown away, it was incredible!

Here are just a few photos from the day.

Our first stop was Ryan Mountain. Jacob had picked this trail because it was a short three mile hike and one of the most popular of the park. The trail had a steep 1,500 elevation gain for the first 1.5 miles and boasted of incredible views from the top. We were not disappointed! The trail was popular but not overcrowded, everyone was very friendly and made room so we could get by. The weather was perfect, low 70s with a light breeze and beautiful blue, clear skies.

We took a few breaks on our way up for water and pictures and eventually reached the peak. We stopped to take in the sights and eat some snacks. A nice woman asked if we’d take a picture of her with her friend and offered to take our picture too!

There is a pile of rocks at the top of the mountain which Jacob said was the true peak so he climbed up those and I snapped some photos. It was time to begin our descent and head on to the next trailhead.

Jacob had picked this second trail because it was on the other side of the park and would give us a chance to see how varied the landscape was. It was a truly beautiful drive. We saw tons of Joshua Trees, Cholla Cactus, Ocotillos! And several interesting and impressive rock formations.

Our final trail was the Mastodon Peak Trail Loop. Another three mile hike but with much less elevation gain. The parking lot was full but we were still able to find spot. We started down the trail and passed a group who were chatting.

A few minutes later I could hear someone running up behind us and I turn around to see a middle aged man in cargo pants, a white t-shirt coming toward us. He stopped when he got to us and said he didn’t mean to run us off the trail. He then asked where we were from and if we were camping. I was so startled it took me a moment to get Washington out, to which he said “Washington state?” He then said he was from New Jersey then sprinted up the trail ahead of us. He stopped at the top of the hill then said, “wow you can really tell where the springs are!” After that, we headed onward and he rushed off the trail somewhere.

We looked back a ways down the trail and he was still there taking in the sites, we didn’t see him again after that. Hope he had a nice time!

This trail had patches of fine rock that almost felt like sand walking through. Which ended up being a little more challenging than we thought with our fatigued legs.

Along the trail we saw a closed mine. Apparently there were over 300 active mines in the park overtime.

By now the sun was starting to get low, our legs were tired and it was time to head home.

We stopped by the visitor center on the way out for a bathroom break and saw the center was closed. A sign on the door said no payments accepted here and to pay as we exit. Which we couldn’t do because we were at our exit and it was closed.

It was a mostly uneventful drive home except for a stretch of California state hwy 60. Here there are stretches of grooved pavement. When you drive over this your tires make this horrible scretching sound. I told Jacob he should switch lanes but the sun was so low, it was in his eyes and he was just trying to focus on following the car ahead of him. Which is when he said “I’d rather listen to annoying sounds than die, but that’s just me.”

Before we got home, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up some dinner. We got home around 8 pm, ate and then went to bed.

Today is a scheduled chill day. We are going to hang around the house, maybe swim in the pool and go for a short walk in the park nearby. Tomorrow is Disneyland!

Until then!